Storing a Tent | Those Who Fold, Those Who Stuff

There are two kinds of campers. Those who carefully fold their tent and then gently slide it into its stuff sack. And those who unceremoniously stuff the canvas into the stuff sack until it’s stuffed. And they swear by the method.

Alexis Nantel, outdoor columnist and author of Practical hiking guidepublished by Éditions de l’Homme, is part of this latter group. “I stuff everything, he proclaims. Tent, sleeping bag, etc. It’s pretty much the only real way, and much faster, to break camp!

Catherine Turgy, a seasoned hiker who has hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, packs and rolls her Dyneema tent (an ultralight fabric), but not her silpoly tent (a silicone-infused polyester fabric that’s also very lightweight). “With silpoly, it’s not very good to fold,” she says.

Hugo Drouin, who notably walked the 1,200 kilometers of the Arizona Trail, is also a fan of stuffing. “I zip all the zippers, for protection, and I stuff “I randomly put my tent or tarp in my bag,” he says. “I avoid folding it the same way every time because then I risk always folding it in the same place and wearing out the fold prematurely.”

This is the main reason given by campers to explain why they stuff their tent into the stuff sack without much ado. It’s not laziness, they maintain.

Some tent manufacturers, such as Nemo Equipment, recommend this practice. “This ensures that your tent fabrics wear more evenly over time, preventing stubborn wrinkles,” the Dover, New Hampshire-based manufacturer says on its website.

It is also a good idea to consult the various articles on the manufacturers’ websites: you will find various tips there for choosing your equipment and making it last.

Tent stuffing isn’t universally accepted among manufacturers, however. MSR instead recommends the “fold and roll” approach: After removing the poles and stakes, lay the tent flat on the ground and fold the canvas two or three times to match the length of the stuff sack. Then roll it tightly, possibly around the poles, and slide it into the stuff sack. “This keeps the canvas nice and smooth,” the Seattle-based manufacturer says in an email to The Press. Whereas stuffing it into a bag results in a lot of creases and folds that can be damaging to its coating.”

Big Agnes, a manufacturer of ultralight tents, says that folded and rolled tents are easier to fit into bags. “We’ve had tents returned damaged for all sorts of reasons, but we’ve yet to see a tent returned because it was damaged from careful packing,” the Colorado-based manufacturer jokes in an email to The Press.

There’s another benefit to carefully folding and rolling your tent: putting the poles in the middle can protect them from breakage, especially if you’re about to entrust your precious camping gear to an airline.

In fact, for all manufacturers, what is crucial is to dry the tent well before storing it for a certain period.

“Storing your tent while it is wet, or even damp, can cause the fabric or waterproof coating to deteriorate,” MSR says. “For this reason, the number one rule for extending the life of your tent is to store it clean, dry, and in a cool place away from sunlight. After each trip, lay out your tent until it is completely dry before storing it.”

Alexis Nantel also emphasizes the importance of removing all items from the bags once you get home. For long-term storage, MSR and Nemo Equipment recommend rolling the tent very lightly and storing it in a large mesh bag or breathable fabric. “Compressing your tent in its bag for a long period of time can damage the fabric and the tape that waterproofs the seams,” Nemo Equipment maintains on its website.

Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a fortune to do this: a good old pillowcase will do the job perfectly. Both folding and stuffing enthusiasts will be happy to know this.